Today is National Walking Day! This is a day to celebrate the easiest way to be the healthiest version of yourself. Walking for thirty to sixty minutes per day may sound like it isn’t much, but studies have shown that it can drastically improve your health and help prevent type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Whether you have 5 minutes of downtime between tasks or a 30-minutes on your lunch break or after work, here’s what a simple stroll can do for you:
- 5 minutes of moderate-intensity walking for every hour you sit boosts mood and decreases fatigue.
- 10 minutes of light-intensity walking per day improves memory and focus.
- 15 minutes of moderate-intensity walking per day increases life expectancy by three years and lowers your risk of death by 14 percent.
- 21 minutes of moderate-intensity walking per day can cut your risk of heart disease by 30 percent.
- 30 minutes of moderate-intensity walking per day increases the circulation of natural killer cells in your body that protect against illness and disease.
Source: Health.com April 2022